Pickleball pop culture recap for November 2025
Here's everything you missed in pickleball pop culture in November 2025.
The MLP Cup concluded and the St. Louis Shock took home the victory.
While in Dallas, the Dallas Flash and a few other pros attended a Dallas Cowboys game. Rafa Hewett even made an appearance on the Jumbotron. Jorja Johnson and Jonathan Truong also made their relationship public.
Genie Bouchard attended a World Series game to support her Toronto Blue Jays.
Anna Leigh Waters announced a new partnership with Pilla Eyewear.
Pickleball’s biggest tournament of the year, the 2025 Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships took place at Brookhaven Country Club.
Anna Leigh Waters adopted a new puppy and named him Archer.
Sam Querrey officially retired from pro pickleball.
Notable celebrities played and spectated during Worlds, including Dirk Nowitzki, Tfue, JD Martinez, Terrell Owens, Eric Decker, Andre Agassi, Hunter Pence, and James Valentine.
Ben Johns debuted a new limited edition paddle from JOOLA in collaboration with the gaming company, Razer.
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The Challenger Showdown wrapped up this year's events and winners of each division earned a PPA contract.
Federico Staksrud won gold in men’s singles. Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters won women’s doubles. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters won mixed doubles.
And notably in the semi-final at Worlds, the top-seeded tandem of Gabe Tardio and Ben Johns was upset by Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in just two games.
It was such a big win that Staksrud even got emotional and teared up on camera. The pair went on to win the gold against CJ Klinger and JW Johnson.
After Anna Leigh Waters won yet another Triple Crown, she officially surpassed Ben Johns as the winningest player in pro pickleball history with her 168th gold medal. That number only continues to rise.
The best dressed players at Worlds included Jorja Johnson, Jay Devilliers, Ava Ignatowich, and Gabe Joseph.
Anna Leigh Waters launched her YouTube channel, and released her first video making mac and cheese with her mom and coach, Leigh Waters.
Genie Bouchard took a quick trip to Vegas.
Journalist and TV personality Katie Couric shared that she loves pickleball just as much as the rest of us on a new installment of Celebrity Pickleball on Pickleballtv.
Travis Rettenmaier got married.
Before the Lakeland Open, a few of the pros like Mary and Maggie Brascia took a trip to Disney World.
Pickle Breakers hosted a 36+ hour pickleball marathon to help raise funds for PPA pro Thomas Wilson’s medical treatments. And then, they went on to set the Guiness World Record with a 49-hour effort.
Max Freeman gave a bunch of the pro women, including Alix Troung and Kate Fahey, handwritten notes asking if he could partner up with them in mixed doubles for 2026.
The pros headed to the Sunshine State for the Veolia Lakeland Open.
Anna Leigh Waters secured another Triple Crown, winning mixed with Ben Johns and women’s with Anna Bright.
Wild card entry Luca Mack battled his way up the men’s singles bracket and made it all the way to the semifinals.
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio avenged their loss from Worlds and won gold in men’s.
PPA Tour legend Steve Deakin played his last pro match in Lakeland and officially retired.
Roscoe Bellamy went up against the World No. 1 Hunter Johnson on Championship Sunday. Roscoe, Hunter, and his brother Yates Johnson are actually the best of friends on tour. Yates definitely had the most fun sitting courtside with two different signs cheering them on.
And despite a strange moment at the net, Bellamy came out on top and won his first title on the PPA Tour.
The Best Dressed List from the Veolia Lakeland Open was announced and featured players like Hurricane Tyra Black, Ashley Griffith, Ella Yeh, and Tammy Emmrich.
Zane Ford announced his engagement to his new fiancé, Maria.
The trailer was released for the Lifetime movie, A Pickleball Christmas, starring James Lafferty and Zibby Allen.
Allyce Jones gave Pickleball.com the inside scoop on the incredible pickleball court in her backyard.
Christian Alshon, Hurricane Tyra Black, and Andrei Daescu made an appearance on the Pickleballers podcast.
Diplo bought a house on Netflix’s Selling the OC with an impressive pickleball court in the backyard.
The pros shared what they’re thankful for.
The PPA Tour signed Jace Morris.
ELN dropped a men’s clothing line.
For Thanksgiving, a few of the pros shared family photos, like the Brascia family.
JOOLA opened up a retail store in Maryland.
Federico Staksrud popped the question to his long-time girlfriend while on vacation in Aspen.
Anything we missed? Let us know on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).
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